Native Americans: Friends or Foes?

Lewis and Clark knew that they could only succeed in traveling across the continent if they had assistance from those who lived there. They needed their help to understand the geography, weather and wildlife that they would be facing on their journey. As most of us know, Sacajawea, a Lemhi Shoshone woman, famously helped Lewis and Clark as a guide and translator.

Without the Native American's help the expedition may never have gotten past St. Louis. Lewis and Clark therefore set out as ambassadors of good will, and at President Jefferson's request, attempted to make treaties and become trading partners with as many native tribes as possible. Though...not all tribes were open to outsiders.

SS.8.A.4.3: Examine the experiences and perspectives of significant individuals and groups during Westward Expansion.

Task: Friend or Foe

As you can see below, Lewis and Clark carried symbols of peace wherever they went to help gain the Native Americans' trust. One such symbol is the "Peace Medal" you see below. This medal was presented to the leaders of tribes to show that the expedition meant no harm. Analyze the images and the passages below. For your fourth task, you will be talking from the viewpoint of one of the Native Americans. How would you feel about these outsides coming into your homeland? Would you trust them? What would you do if you were the leader of one of these tribes and was presented with a "Peace Medal?"

Friends...

The image above is an actual "Jefferson Peace Medal" carried by Lewis and Clark on their Expedition.

Lewis and Clark trading with the native people.

...Foes

Journal Entries from Patrick Gass and John Ordway - February 28, 1805

Lewis and Clark dealt with mostly friendly Native American tribes, with one large exception: the Lakota Sioux.

To complete this task, you will use PicCollage (iPad app) to show the feelings that Native Americans potentially dealt with upon encountering the expedition.

Save one (or both) of the photos above.

Open the "PicCollage" app, and start a new comic by tapping "Photo Library".

Choose the photo you saved, and adjust it to your liking.

Add "thought bubbles" to answer the following question: Are these strangers (the explorers) friends or foes and why? (Make sure to provide a well reasoned explanation that supports your argument.)

Save your comic by tapping the third button on the top. (It looks like an envelope.) Then tap "Save Comic to Photos".

When you're finished, head to the next task!

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